Fires at the former illegal dump site in East London known locally as the "Rainham volcano" could continue for another two to three years because of potentially lengthy legal proceedings, prolonging the repeated smoke affecting nearby residents, according to a council report.
Here's what to know
Havering in East London, England, may not be able to get the problem under control. A council report cited by the BBC said legal proceedings could leave fires at Arnolds Field on Launders Lane continuing for another two to three years.
Between 2010 and 2015, about 65,400 cubic yards of waste accumulated at the privately owned site, according to Havering Council. The authority said that material like hazardous waste is behind a run of more than 160 fires there since 2018.
For nearby residents, the site has become both a health concern and a persistent disruption. People in the area told the BBC they had experienced coughing, irritated eyes, and more frequent GP visits. Campaign group Clear the Air in Havering described the recurring flare-ups as "summers of hell."
Even after the land was formally designated contaminated in October, the report said that Havering could still be years away from carrying out the work itself. The designation does, however, give the council a stronger route to force action if voluntary cooperation fails.
More background
Illegal waste dumping can keep harming communities long after the dumping ends. In this case, the waste was deposited years ago, but the effects are still being felt through repeated fires and smoke pollution.
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Since buying the site in 2017, Jerry O'Donovan of DMC Services (Essex) has said he has been trying from 2018 onward to work with the council on a cleanup plan. He told the BBC that one proposed intervention did not have enough legal or technical backing from the council.
One proposal called for a cement polymer layer to be placed over key hotspots so less oxygen would reach buried waste, and the fire risk would drop. The BBC reported that Havering said the plan stalled when DMC Services declined permission for work on its land. O'Donovan said some of the measures would need planning permission or further environmental assessments.
What's being done?
The Havering Council said the legally required effort to secure a voluntary fix has been exhausted. It's now looking to create a remediation notice. According to the BBC, that notice would require specified parties to address the fires and smoke pollution.
Councillors have agreed to start preparing the notice, underscoring a promise from the administration elected in May to stop the blazes. If the owner does not comply, fines could follow, and the council could eventually use its "step-in" powers to carry out the work itself.
Havering estimates that such direct intervention could cost up to £200,000 (almost $272,000). The report also said legal challenges and procedural steps could still hold up any on-the-ground fix.
The smoke, disruption, and uncertainty may continue even as officials move closer to formal enforcement.
"Residents living near Launders Lane have put up with fires, smoke, disruption and anxiety for far too long," Havering Council leader Keith Prince said. "I want to be absolutely clear: this administration stands with them, and we will do everything within the council's powers to stop the fires and end this misery."
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